Bombshell: Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from the Portugal National Team

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Cristiano Ronaldo's message announcing his retirement

Portuguese, the day has come to return the number 7 jersey of the national team of all of us. I never felt it was exclusively mine, but for 23 years I had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it, defending it, and carrying it with me in stadiums around the world. Today the moment has come to hand it over to the future. It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made just with the head; they are also made with the heart. A journey that began in August 2003 comes to an end, and it gives me my life forever.

When I look back and think about everything I experienced with the national team, I hardly see matches, goals, records, or trophies. I see people. I see immigrants who, for 90 minutes, felt Portugal a little closer. I see millions of Portuguese whom I never personally met, but who were part of my life. Because, after all, football is much greater than a game. Football is about people.

Throughout my career with the national team, I sought to push my limits. I wanted to win, I wanted to be the best, I wanted to make history. I always demanded more from myself, I always wanted more, I always believed we could go further, and I gave everything I had for this jersey. There were perfect afternoons and nights, there were victories I will never forget, there were defeats that I still find hard to remember. I also failed, I also suffered, there were moments when I was not able to give the Portuguese what they so desired, but I never gave up. And, above all, I never stopped feeling proud to represent Portugal.

Over the years, I learned very simple things: goals come and go, trophies remain in museums, records are eventually broken. But there is something that time can never extinguish: the place we occupy in the hearts of people. If I ever made you happy, if ever one of my goals made you hug someone, ease a worry, or feel pride in our country, then it was all worth it. Because being Portuguese is also that: we suffer together, we rise together, let’s dream again!

Portugal will always need young dreamers, players who never give up, new generations who believe it is possible to reach where no one has reached. Because a country that continues to create new heroes is a country that never stops believing in itself.

To my teammates on the national team, I want to leave a special word: thank you for every sprint, for every hug, for every argument, for every silence before stepping onto the field, for every victory we celebrated together, and for every defeat that made us stronger. I had the privilege of being your captain, but no captain walks alone, and you are part of my story.

To all the coaches, managers, doctors, physiotherapists, kit men, staff, and so many people who worked with me over the years, my thanks. Many of you never appeared in the photographs, but without you, none of those photographs would have been possible.

To my family, thank you for sharing this dream with me. Thank you for understanding the absences, the sacrifices, and the moments when the national team had to occupy a space that also belonged to you. If I have come this far, it is because we have always been hand in hand.

And to the Portuguese, to all the Portuguese scattered around the world, I want to say one last thing. There is an image I will always carry with me: the moment the national anthem begins. I look around, I see my teammates, I see the stands, I see children, mothers, fathers, and grandparents, I see Portuguese who came from so far to be there.

And during those minutes, we stop being different. There are no clubs, there are no colors, there are no classes, there are no professions, there are no opinions; there is only one passion: Portugal. That is the feeling I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Today my journey on the field with the national team comes to an end. I leave with my head held high, with pride in the path I have taken, and with the awareness that I gave everything I had for Portugal. But I will never stop being one of you. I will continue to suffer, cheer, and celebrate every victory of Portugal with a siu.

I spent my life working to be the best player in the world. Today I realize that the greatest victory was having deserved to represent the best country in the world. Thank you for these 23 years. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for allowing me to live a dream that began when I was just a child in Madeira chasing after a ball. The number 7 will remain. The pride of having worn it will be mine forever. Portugal will always be a part of me. Goodbye, until next time, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo's final numbers with Portugal

In just over 23 years representing his country (he debuted in August 2003), the Madeira native played 18,604 minutes, spread over 234 matches, in which he scored 146 goals, provided 45 assists, and received 32 yellow cards and 1 red card. In terms of titles, he won 3: 1 Euro Cup (2016) and 2 UEFA Nations League (2019 and 2025).